Find the Correct Wisconsin Business Record
Search a Wisconsin corporation, LLC, partnership or nonprofit by name or DFI Entity ID, then verify the status, registered agent, offices, annual-report year, former names and filing chronology.
You will also learn why Wisconsin uses DFI instead of a Secretary of State registry, what the database cannot show, and which action to take when a record is delinquent, dissolved, missing or confused with an EIN.
“Wisconsin SOS Search” Means the DFI Corporate Records Search
People commonly type “Wisconsin Secretary of State business search,” but corporations, LLCs and other registered entities are maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services.
The Wisconsin Secretary of State handles other functions, including apostilles and authentications. Use DFI when the task concerns entity formation, annual reports, registered agents, certificates, business status or charter documents.
What Are You Trying to Do?
This planner does not run a live database search. It tells you which official path to use and what information to collect first.
Find a corporation or LLC
- Search the distinctive words without LLC, Inc. or Corp.
- Compare the DFI Entity ID, entity type, effective date and status.
- Open the matching profile.
- Review the latest annual-report year and chronology before relying on it.
Complete the Wisconsin DFI Search Step by Step
Use the basic Corporate Records Search first. Move to advanced search when the name is common, the company used an old name, or you need an agent, date, entity-type or inactive-record filter.
Open the state Corporate Records Search
Confirm that the page is on a Wisconsin government domain and identifies the Department of Financial Institutions. The basic public lookup does not require a formation-service account or payment.
Remove the legal ending
DFI’s own search guidance recommends entering the name without its ending. For Badger Lake Equipment Services LLC, begin with Badger Lake Equipment.
Use fewer distinctive words
Drop generic wording such as Wisconsin, services, company, holdings, group or solutions. A short, distinctive phrase often finds records that a long exact name misses.
Use the DFI Entity ID when available
The ID has seven characters with one letter and six numbers. Formats include A###### and #A#####. The ID is the safest way to reopen one exact record.
Compare every plausible result
Check the entity name, ID, entity type, registered effective date, status and status date. Do not choose a record only because the name looks similar.
Open the full profile
Review the registered agent, registered office, principal office, annual-report requirement, old names, report years and chronology of filings.
Record the lookup date and key fields
Business records change. Save the date, DFI Entity ID and status you relied on, and order an official certificate only when a bank, agency or transaction requires one.
Quick record-notes sheet
After choosing the search wording and fields above, use the official live database.
Use Advanced Search for Old Names, Agents and Inactive Entities
Advanced search is valuable when the basic query returns too many records or no record. It lets you control matching, record subject, existence status, name history, entity type and registration dates.
Exact phrase
Use when spelling and word order are known. It is the easiest option to make too narrow.
All of the words
Use when the important words are known but may appear in another order or with extra wording.
Starts with these words
Use when the beginning is reliable but the remainder or legal ending is uncertain.
Registered-agent name
Use when a legal notice, contract or filing shows the agent but not the entity’s correct name.
Current and old names
Use for older contracts, deeds, invoices and companies that changed names.
No longer in existence
Use when checking a dissolved, merged, terminated or withdrawn organization.
| Filter | Use it when | Avoid this mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Entities | You are looking for a company, LLC, corporation or partnership name. | Do not use the registered-agent subject when the words belong to the entity name. |
| Registered Agents | You know the agent’s person or company name. | A professional agent can represent hundreds of unrelated entities. |
| In Existence | You need currently existing records only. | It can hide a dissolved company that still matters to an old contract. |
| No Longer in Existence | You are researching closed, merged, terminated or withdrawn records. | Do not assume every inactive record has the same legal effect. |
| Old Names | The document predates a name amendment. | Match the name-change date with the date of the transaction. |
| Entity Type | A common name produces many legal structures. | Do not assume every business using “company” is an LLC. |
| Registration Date | You know roughly when the entity was created or qualified. | A foreign entity’s Wisconsin date is not necessarily its original formation date. |
Common entity-type codes
Read the Search Results Before Opening a Record
The result list is a matching screen, not the complete record. Use it to rule out look-alike entities before opening the detailed profile.
| Result column | What to compare | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| DFI Entity ID | The exact seven-character identifier. | It distinguishes entities with identical or nearly identical names. |
| Entity Name / Type | Legal wording and domestic/foreign structure. | A corporation, LLC and name reservation can share similar wording. |
| Registered Effective Date | The Wisconsin creation or qualification date. | It helps distinguish older and newer entities and test a company’s claim. |
| Status / Status Date | The full status and when it began. | A later status can be more important than the original registration date. |
What the DFI Corporate Search Includes—and Excludes
The Corporate Registration Information System is a filing registry. It does not operate as a universal list of every business, owner, tax account, licence or telephone number in Wisconsin.
Information normally available
- Legal entity name
- DFI Entity ID
- Entity type
- Registered effective date
- Registered agent
- Registered-office address
- Principal-office address when required
- Current status and status date
- Charter-document chronology
- Most recently filed annual-report year
- Former legal names when recorded
Information not maintained in this search
- Federal EIN or FEIN
- Telephone numbers
- Sole proprietors as separate entities
- Ordinary trade names or DBAs
- Complete LLC member or owner lists
- Complete shareholders
- Wisconsin tax-account numbers
- Most general partnerships unless they filed voluntarily
- Professional and occupational licences
- Insurance, reputation or financial condition
Decode the Full Wisconsin Entity Profile
Read the profile in this order: identity, status, agent and offices, annual-report history, then chronology. A single field rarely answers the entire verification question.
| Profile field | Plain-English meaning | Common mistake | Next check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Entity Name | The current legal name on the DFI record. | Treating an advertised trade name as the contracting entity. | Check old names and Wisconsin trademark/tradename records. |
| DFI Entity ID | The unique file number assigned by DFI. | Confusing it with an EIN or tax number. | Use it in annual reports, orders and support requests. |
| Registered Effective Date | When a domestic entity was created or a foreign entity was qualified or registered in Wisconsin. | Assuming uninterrupted operations from that date. | Read later dissolution, merger or restoration entries. |
| Entity Type | The legal structure and whether it is domestic or foreign. | Applying an LLC deadline or fee to a corporation. | Use the correct form and annual-report instructions. |
| Status / Status Date | The entity’s statutory condition and when that status began. | Reading only “active-looking” wording without the date. | Find the chronology event that created or later changed it. |
| Registered Agent | The person or eligible entity designated to receive official communications. | Assuming the agent owns the entity. | Review annual reports and transaction documents. |
| Registered Office | The business office of the registered agent in Wisconsin. | Treating it as a storefront or headquarters. | Compare the principal office and company contact details. |
| Principal Office | The entity’s principal executive office. | Assuming it must be in Wisconsin. | Compare the latest report and contract. |
| Annual Reports | Report years and storage or locator information. | Assuming the newest year alone proves current status. | Read report year, status and chronology together. |
| Old Names | Former legal names recorded for the entity. | Assuming an older document belongs to an unrelated company. | Compare the name-change date with the transaction date. |
| Effective Date in Chronology | When a transaction or status is legally treated as effective. | Assuming it must equal the processed date. | Use the processed date to see when DFI accepted the document. |
| Processed Date | When DFI examined, accepted and filed the document. | Using it as the only legal-effective date. | Compare both dates when timing matters. |
| Annual Report Locator | A reference containing the report year and storage details. | Treating it as a tax ID or payment confirmation. | Zeros in reel and image fields indicate an electronic report. |
Wisconsin Status and Chronology Code Decoder
DFI defines status as the entity’s condition under the law that governs it. The code does not certify financial stability, lawful day-to-day operations or professional licensing.
| Status or code | What it means | Visitor action | Company action |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORG — Organized | A domestic entity was created and no terminating filing is shown. | Check reports and chronology for later problems. | Keep reports, agent and office information current. |
| INC — Incorporated / Qualified / Registered | A domestic entity exists or a foreign entity is qualified or registered. | Complete licence, identity and transaction checks. | Maintain annual reports and Wisconsin agent information. |
| RGD — Registered | A registered entity or unlicensed foreign-name registration is on record. | Check the entity type before assuming operating authority. | Use the correct registration or qualification filing for its purpose. |
| DLQ — Delinquent | A required annual report was not filed. | Check which report years are missing. | File a current report and pay applicable back-report fees. |
| IGS — Restored to Good Standing | The entity cured a prior bad-standing or delinquency condition. | Check for later chronology entries. | Save proof and maintain the next report deadline. |
| NAD — Notice of Intent to Administratively Dissolve | DFI has started the administrative-dissolution process. | Treat the issue as time-sensitive. | File the required report during the correction period. |
| Administratively Dissolved | A domestic entity was dissolved after unresolved filing failures. | Look for a later reinstatement before relying on current status. | Contact DFI for reinstatement materials and back reports. |
| RCA — Revocation / Termination | A foreign entity lost Wisconsin authority or registration. | Verify later reinstatement or re-registration. | Ask DFI which foreign-entity restoration filing applies. |
| DIS — Dissolved | Articles or another dissolution filing ended the entity. | Check for revocation of dissolution or reinstatement. | Determine whether reversal or reinstatement is available. |
| DNP — Dissolved, Name Protected | The entity dissolved while preserving its old name under the applicable filing. | Do not treat the protected name as an operating entity. | Track the name-protection term and transfer rules. |
| MER — Merger | The record is the survivor of a merger. | Open the merger filing for effective date and parties. | Use the survivor’s record for later filings. |
| MGD — Merged / Acquired | The entity did not survive the merger. | Identify and search the surviving entity. | Use the survivor’s DFI record. |
| TER — Terminated | A filing terminated the entity’s existence. | Do not rely on the record as current. | Seek legal guidance if reversal is needed. |
| WTD — Withdrawal | A foreign entity ended its Wisconsin authority or registration. | Check its home-state record and newer Wisconsin filings. | Re-register before resuming activity when required. |
| RES / RLT | A short- or long-term name reservation exists. | Do not mistake it for a formed entity. | File formation documents before the reservation expires. |
| 97 — In Process | A name is tied to a filing not yet accepted. | Wait for the accepted record. | Monitor for acceptance, rejection or correction. |
Other chronology codes worth recognizing
No Record Found? Follow This Recovery Order
A missing result can reflect narrow wording, an old name, an unregistered structure, a trade name or a record outside the modern database—not necessarily a fake business.
Verify a Wisconsin Business Before You Pay
The entity record identifies the legal organization behind a contract, invoice, lease or service proposal. It does not prove that the person contacting you is authorised or that the business is licensed and insured.
Match these DFI facts
- Legal entity name on the agreement
- DFI Entity ID
- Entity type
- Current status and status date
- Registered effective date
- Registered agent and office
- Principal office
- Newest annual-report year
- Old names, merger or restoration history
Verify these separately
- Professional or occupational licence
- Insurance coverage
- Tax-account status
- Complete ownership
- Authority of the person contacting you
- Ownership of the requested bank account
- UCC liens and court judgments
- Consumer reputation and financial condition
Worked example: the invoice name does not appear in DFI
“Lakeview Roof Rescue.”
No legal entity uses that exact name.
The name is associated with “LRR Construction LLC.”
Search LRR Construction LLC, match its DFI ID and status, then verify the applicable contractor credential and payee.
Check and Reserve a Wisconsin Entity Name
The public database provides a preliminary check. Form 1 states that DFI cannot guarantee final availability until it receives, examines and files the document.
Search these variations
- Full proposed legal name
- Distinctive wording without the entity ending
- Singular and plural forms
- Spacing and punctuation variations
- Abbreviations such as Corporation and Corp.
- Current and old legal names
- Registered Wisconsin tradenames and trademarks
Do not assume
- No result guarantees acceptance.
- A reservation forms the business.
- DFI acceptance creates federal trademark rights.
- A domain purchase proves legal availability.
- A tradename registration creates an LLC.
Form 1 reservation fees and terms
| Entity category | Term | Fee | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business corporation, LLC, cooperative or LLP | 120 days | $15 | Nonrefundable even if the name is unavailable. |
| LP, LLLP or nonstock corporation | 120 days | $10 | Nonrefundable processing fee. |
| Qualifying old corporate, cooperative or nonstock name | Up to 10 years | $50 | Must be filed with the related merger, dissolution or name-change document. |
| Optional expedited paper service | Next-business-day target | +$100 | Add to the underlying filing fee and mark the request expedited. |
Entity designator rules from Form 1
- LLC: Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, LLC or LC.
- Corporation: Corporation, Incorporated, Company, Limited or an accepted abbreviation.
- LLP: Limited Liability Partnership, Registered Limited Liability Partnership, LLP or RLLP.
- LP/LLLP: the corresponding statutory phrase or abbreviation.
- Service corporation: Chartered, Limited, Service Corporation, Ltd. or S.C.
- Cooperative: cooperative or an abbreviation.
After completing the broad check above, use the official name tool or download the current Form 1.
Find a Wisconsin DBA or Tradename
Ordinary tradenames are not listed in the Corporate Records Search. Wisconsin DFI handles optional tradename registration through its trademark system.
Use a tradename search when
- A storefront name does not match an entity
- A sole proprietor uses a business name
- An invoice uses a brand instead of the LLC name
- You are checking use of a name or logo in Wisconsin
A tradename filing does not
- Create an LLC or corporation
- Register a foreign entity to transact business
- Reserve an entity name in the corporate database
- Automatically establish ownership or exclusive rights
- Replace federal trademark research
DFI currently lists a separate $15 registration for each name or design. Search the registered-trademark database first, then compare any result with the legal entity record.
Wisconsin Annual-Report Deadlines and Fees
Wisconsin does not use one universal due date for domestic entities. The deadline is the last day of the quarter containing the registration anniversary. Foreign entities generally file in the first calendar quarter.
Domestic deadline calendar
First report starts in the year after registration.
Use the registered effective date shown by DFI.
The quarter rule repeats every later year.
Do not substitute an April 15 deadline from another state.
Common filing fees by entity and method
| Entity and filing method | Current amount | What changes the total |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic business corporation online | $25 | Use the eligible online annual-report route. |
| Domestic business corporation paper Form 16 | $40 | Paper amount reflects the applicable filing structure; optional expedite adds $100. |
| Domestic LLC or nonstock corporation online | $25 per report year | Missing years can create accumulated back-report fees. |
| Domestic LLC or nonstock corporation paper Form 5 | $25 per report year + $15 paper surcharge | The surcharge is added to the accumulated domestic report fees. |
| Foreign LLC or nonstock corporation online | $65 | Confirm eligibility and checkout amount. |
| Foreign LLC or nonstock corporation paper Form 5 | $80 | The listed paper amount includes the $15 surcharge. |
| Foreign business corporation | Base annual-report fee plus any applicable represented-capital charge | Wisconsin uses a capital-representation calculation for some foreign corporations. |
Worked due-date examples
Do not calculate the deadline from today’s date
First annual report is due March 31, 2027.
First report is due June 30, 2027.
Its 2026 report is due September 30, 2026.
Its first Wisconsin annual report is generally due March 31, 2027.
Information to prepare before filing
- Legal entity name and DFI Entity ID
- Registered-agent name and email
- Wisconsin registered-office address
- Principal-office address
- At least one LLC member or manager based on the management structure
- Corporation officers and directors where required
- Share information for a domestic business corporation
- Foreign jurisdiction and fictitious name when applicable
- Filing contact email and payment method
After identifying the entity, due year and correct fee path, use the official annual-report lookup. Some eligible domestic reports redirect to Wisconsin One Stop; confirm that the redirected domain is onestop.wi.gov.
Fix Annual-Report Rejections and Portal Messages
Do not repeatedly resubmit the same report. Read the portal message and choose the path that matches the entity’s status and reporting year.
| Message or problem | Likely meaning | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Already filed for the current reporting period | DFI has a report for that year. | Return to the profile and confirm the report year and chronology before paying again. |
| May not submit an annual report online | The entity or filing condition requires assistance or a paper path. | Email DFI with the entity name and ID instead of forcing another online attempt. |
| Not eligible to file | Status, entity type, report year or an existing filing prevents ordinary online submission. | Review status and contact DFI for the appropriate restoration or paper form. |
| Wrong entity appears | A name search selected a look-alike record. | Restart with the exact DFI Entity ID. |
| Paper report returned | A required field, signature, date or correct fee may be missing. | Use the rejection note and complete every required section. |
| Delinquent status remains | Another year, fee or acceptance step may remain unresolved. | Check chronology and ask DFI which report years are outstanding. |
Paper and emailed document checklist
- Use the current form for the entity type.
- Answer every required question; enter “NONE” only where the instructions allow it.
- Include the registered agent’s email and physical Wisconsin office.
- Confirm the entity is not named as its own registered agent.
- Sign and date the filing.
- Use a PDF attachment for emailed filings.
- Name the attachment with the form number and entity name.
- Attach or reference the online-payment receipt or existing credit.
- Use a clear, readable scan; DFI may request a better-quality document.
Correct a Mistake or Update the Registered Agent
Use the filing that matches the change. An annual report can update some information, but it cannot cancel every previously filed document or solve every legal error.
Statement of Correction
Used when a filed statement was incorrect at filing or the document was defectively executed. It cannot cancel filed articles of dissolution or simply undo another filing.
Registered-agent or office change
Some changes can be reported on the annual report; a separate Statement of Change or amendment can also be required.
Emailed paper filing
Submit a PDF named with the form number and entity name, together with proof of online payment or a prior credit.
Suspected fraudulent filing
DFI advises obtaining a certified copy of the suspicious filing before changing the record, so the original evidence is preserved.
Use the forms directory only after identifying whether you need a correction, annual report, agent change, amendment or fraud-response step.
Restore, Dissolve or Withdraw a Wisconsin Entity
The correct path depends on whether the record is delinquent, under notice, already dissolved, a revoked foreign registration or a business choosing to close voluntarily.
| Current situation | What it means | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
| Delinquent | A required annual report is missing. | File a current report and pay applicable back-report fees. |
| On administrative-dissolution notice list | DFI has started the dissolution process but correction may still be available. | Submit the annual report within the allowed correction period. |
| Administratively dissolved | The notice period ended without correction. | Contact DFI for reinstatement forms and required reports. |
| Foreign entity missing March 31 report | The registration can be revoked or terminated after the statutory notice process. | File promptly and respond to any intent-to-revoke notice. |
| Foreign registration revoked or terminated | The entity lost Wisconsin authority or registration. | Ask DFI whether reinstatement, re-registration or another filing applies. |
| Voluntary closure | The owners choose to dissolve, terminate or withdraw the entity. | Use the entity-specific dissolution, termination or foreign-withdrawal form. |
Choose a Certificate of Status or Business Document
Ask the receiving organization exactly what it needs. A free profile, simple copy, certified filing and Certificate of Status serve different purposes.
| Your need | Best starting product | Fee | What it provides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research the current public record | Online entity profile | Free | Name, ID, status, agent, offices, report years and chronology. |
| Show current status | Certificate of Status | $10 | Current name, effective date, status and domestic/foreign classification. |
| Add previous names, agent or charter list | Long-form Certificate of Status | $10 | Status plus requested expanded facts on record. |
| Prove one filed document | Certified copy of an individual document | $10 | The complete selected filing with DFI certification. |
| Read one filing without certification | Simple copy of an individual document | $5 | The selected filing without a certification page. |
| Obtain the complete charter package | Copy or certified copy of charter documents | $5 simple / $10 certified | Articles plus later amendments, mergers, restatements and dissolution filings under the order instructions. |
| Use a document outside the United States | Notarized certificate or certified copy | $10 before later apostille/authentication fees | A form suitable for later apostille or authentication processing. |
Ordering and processing details
- Verify the exact entity name and DFI Entity ID before ordering.
- Certificate and copy fees are nonrefundable.
- Standard requests can take seven to ten business days.
- Expedited certificate or copy processing is an additional $25 per document.
- Delivery can be by email, U.S. mail, pickup or customer-paid courier.
- Some certificate types require manual generation and may not be available online.
- Form 48 allows standard, long-form, foreign-use and document-copy choices.
Wisconsin Business Search Versus Registering a New LLC
The search checks an existing public record. Name availability is preliminary. Formation occurs only after DFI accepts the Articles of Organization.
Online domestic LLC formation
The official online route currently lists a $130 nonrefundable filing fee.
Paper Articles of Organization
Form 502, revised May 2026, lists a $170 fee and optional $100 next-business-day expedited service.
Delayed effective date
Form 502 can specify a date no earlier than receipt and no more than 90 days after DFI receives the filing.
Filed information becomes public
Agent, organizer, address and other submitted information can be used beyond the original filing purpose.
Form 502 preparation checklist
- Available LLC name with an accepted designator
- Initial registered-agent name and email
- Actual Wisconsin registered-office street address
- Principal-office street and mailing addresses
- Name and complete address of every organizer
- At least one organizer’s signature
- Drafter name when the document is executed in Wisconsin
- Optional additional provisions or delayed effective date
- Contact information and correct payment
Use the official formation page only after completing the name, agent and address preparation above.
DFI Entity ID, EIN or Wisconsin Tax Number?
These numbers come from different agencies and serve different purposes. The corporate search expressly warns that a DFI Entity ID is not an FEIN.
| Identifier | Maintained by | Used for | Public in DFI search? |
|---|---|---|---|
| DFI Entity ID | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions | Corporate-record search, annual reports, filings, certificates and support. | Yes |
| EIN / FEIN | Internal Revenue Service | Federal tax identification, payroll, banking and authorised business uses. | No |
| Wisconsin tax account number | Wisconsin Department of Revenue | Applicable state taxes, registration and filing frequency. | No, not through DFI |
| Credential or licence number | Wisconsin DSPS or another responsible regulator | Professional, business or trade authority. | Use the applicable licence lookup |
How a business locates its own EIN
Check the IRS EIN assignment notice, prior tax returns, payroll records, authorised bank documents or an IRS business-account process. There is no ordinary public DFI EIN search for private companies.
Use the Correct Wisconsin Lookup Tool
The corporate registry answers legal-entity questions. Switch tools when the issue is a tradename, licence, tax account, secured lien or federal EIN.
Avoid Unofficial Certificate and Compliance Charges
A private service may offer to obtain a public filing or certificate for an added fee. Wisconsin does not require a business to buy a Certificate of Status merely because a mailer offers one.
Before paying
- Confirm the official Wisconsin government domain.
- Match the legal name and DFI Entity ID.
- Identify the exact filing or document required.
- Compare the DFI fee with the total charged.
- Separate state fees from private service fees.
- Save the official receipt or order number.
Pause when a notice
- Looks like an invoice from a government office but is private
- Claims every new company must buy a status certificate
- Charges far more than the published DFI fee
- Creates urgency without an official case or filing number
- Directs payment to a non-government address
- Does not clearly disclose the optional private service
Contact Wisconsin DFI With a Useful Record Question
Support can help locate records and identify filing paths, but DFI cannot provide legal advice or certify that a company is operating lawfully.
Prepare before contacting support
- Exact legal or suspected business name
- DFI Entity ID, when available
- Entity type and status displayed
- Current-name, old-name and agent searches tried
- Annual-report or document year
- Filing, receipt or order number
- Error text or screenshot with payment information removed
- The exact result you need from DFI
Use the general information page after preparing the details above.
Final Wisconsin Record Verification Checklist
Complete this review before signing, paying, filing or representing that an entity is current.
Wisconsin Corporation and LLC Search FAQs
Is Wisconsin’s corporation search run by the Secretary of State?
No. Wisconsin corporations, LLCs and other registered entities are maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. The Secretary of State handles different functions, including apostilles and authentications.
Is the Wisconsin DFI business search free?
Yes. The public Corporate Records Search is free. Formations, annual reports, certificates, certified copies and other filings can require fees.
How do I search a Wisconsin LLC by name?
Start with the distinctive part of the legal name and leave out LLC or LC. Use advanced “starts with” or “all words” matching when the basic search fails, and include old names when the company may have changed its legal name.
What is a Wisconsin DFI Entity ID?
It is the seven-character file number assigned by DFI. It contains one letter and six numbers in formats such as A###### or #A#####. It is not a federal EIN or Wisconsin tax number.
Can I find an EIN through the DFI corporate search?
No. DFI expressly lists FEIN information among the data it does not maintain in the corporate search. A business should use its IRS assignment notice, tax records, authorised bank records or an IRS process.
Can DFI show who owns a Wisconsin LLC?
Not as a complete owner database. The main corporate search does not maintain a general domestic LLC member list. An annual report may identify at least one member or manager, but that does not necessarily establish complete beneficial ownership.
What does Delinquent mean in a Wisconsin business record?
It means the entity failed to file a required annual report. DFI says delinquency may generally be cured by filing a current report and paying applicable back-report fees, unless the entity has moved into dissolution or another status.
When is a Wisconsin LLC annual report due?
A domestic LLC files by the last day of the quarter containing its formation anniversary: March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31. A foreign LLC generally files by March 31.
How much is a Wisconsin Certificate of Status?
DFI currently lists the standard and long-form Certificate of Status at $10. Expedited certificate or copy processing is an additional $25 per document. Confirm the order screen before paying.
Why can’t I find an old Wisconsin company?
Remove the entity ending, use fewer words, include old names, search the registered agent and include entities no longer in existence. Sole proprietors and ordinary tradenames are not in the corporate search, and DFI may need to assist with entities dissolved, merged or withdrawn before January 1, 1977.
Freshness note: official search controls, status definitions, fees, annual-report deadlines, certificate options and May 2026 forms were rechecked on August 3, 2026. Government interfaces and fees can change; verify the final official screen before submitting or paying.